Collaborative Research: Inside Ancient Animal Embryos and Algae -- Computed Tomographic analysis of Neoproterozoic Multicellular Eukaryotes

本项目采用新型显微x射线计算机断层扫描（micro - ct）技术，结合常规扫描电镜（SEM）和薄层扫描技术，对新元古代豆山沱组动物胚胎和藻类的三维内部结构进行研究。分析将集中在15种形态的良好约束套件上。这些化石提供了关于早期多细胞生物进化的重要信息，并展示了地质记录中已知的一些最壮观的细胞水平保存。该项目的目标是描述单个胚胎和藻类内的几何形状、空间关系和细胞数量，并确定可能的亚细胞结构。这些信息将用于解释亚细胞生物学、细胞几何和细胞分裂拓扑结构。最终，这些信息对陡山沱组化石的分类和系统发育解释具有重要意义，为了解新元古代多细胞真核生物的多样化提供了一个独特的窗口。在本项目实施过程中开发的技术将用于检查其他过矿化和钙质化石。

RUI: Collaborative Research: Inside ancient animal embryos and algae - Computed tomographic analysis of Neoproterozoic multicellular eukaryotesAbstractJames W. HagadornEAR-0230142ABSTRACTThis project is designed to study the three-dimensional internal structure of phosphatized animal embryos and algae in the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation using new microscopic X-radiographic computed tomographic (microCT) as well as conventional SEM and thin section techniques. Analyses will focus on a well-constrained suite of 15 morphotypes. These fossils provide critical information about the evolution of early multicellular organisms, and exhibit some of the most spectacular cellular-level preservation known from the geologic record. The goals of this project are to characterize the geometry, spatial relationships, and number of cells within individual embryos and algae, and to identify possible subcellular structures. This information will be used to interpret the subcellular biology, cell geometry, and cell division topology. Ultimately, such information is important in taxonomic and phylogenetic interpretation of these Doushantuo fossils, which provide a unique window onto the Neoproterozoic diversification of multicellular eukaryotes. Techniques developed during the implementation of this project will be used to examine other permineralized and calcareous fossils.